Chapter 804 Framing Qin Mei

"At Granny’s birthday party yesterday, Aunt Lin and I got into an argument," Xu Chunyan said, feigning sorrow. "Granny fainted from anger, while An Lin’s wife and Teacher Lin both suffered pregnancy scares. I felt so guilty that I tossed and turned all night. Today, after dropping Xiao You off at school, I took a leave of absence from work and went straight to the Lin Family to apologize. Only then did I find out..."

She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

"Aunt Lin, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I never should have brought Xiao You to Granny’s birthday party yesterday." Looking at Li Axiu, Xu Chunyan’s apology seemed incredibly sincere.

Li Axiu didn’t take her anger out on Xu Chunyan. Instead, she glared at Qin Mei with sheer abhorrence.

"Xiao Mei, you need to mentally prepare yourself," Mrs. Xie warned her indignantly. "Lin Yaru woke up and insisted that you were the one who force-fed her the medicine."

Qin Mei froze. She thought they would frame her by claiming she had tricked Lin Yaru into getting an abortion, or that she had encouraged her to drink the medicine. Being accused of force-feeding it to her was completely beyond her expectations.

Xu Chunyan shot Jie Anlin a pointed look, reminding him that it was his turn to step up.

Jie Anlin wanted to turn a blind eye. Since Xu Chunyan had just ignored his silent pleas for help, he wanted to return the favor. But on second thought, they were partners in this scheme. If they started fighting amongst themselves, how could they possibly nail Qin Mei to the wall?

Jie Anlin stepped forward. "Uncle Jianguo, Aunt Jianguo, I’m sorry. I can’t in good conscience just stand by and watch anymore."

"An Lin, shut up." Mr. Xie gritted his teeth, his jaw aching in frustration. Weren’t things messy enough already? Why did this guy have to meddle too?

"Director Jie, are you trying to cover for the Fourth Wife of Jing?" Mr. Lin stepped up boldly.

"Mr. Lin, the matter hasn’t been thoroughly investigated yet. We can’t..."

"We can’t what?" Mr. Lin interrupted him. "Can’t wrong your fourth daughter-in-law? My Yaru is the victim here! If the victim’s words can’t be trusted, then whose can? The perpetrator’s? Director Jie, you can’t play favorites. They are both your daughters-in-law. You can’t just favor Jing Si simply because Jing Er’s mother is no longer around."

"Report it to the police. Let the officers investigate," Mr. Xie said.

Qin Mei was a bit surprised. Was her father-in-law actually defending her?

"Exactly. Report it to the police," Mrs. Xie agreed.

Jie Anlin panicked. Nobody was following the script Xu Chunyan had laid out! Why were they suddenly talking about calling the cops? Hadn’t Xu Chunyan said that family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public and that this matter could only be resolved privately?

If it were handled privately, he could spin the story however he wanted. But if the police got involved, he would have to watch his words carefully.

Xu Chunyan was getting anxious as well. The situation was spiraling out of control.

"Call the police." Li Axiu and Mr. Lin agreed with the proposal, glaring viciously at Qin Mei as if they couldn’t wait to bring her to justice.

"Call what police?" Granny’s furious voice rang out from outside the door.

As though he had just heard his savior, Jie Anlin let go of Li Axiu and ran to open the door.

Jie Jianjun and his wife were supporting Granny by the arms, with Grandpa following closely behind them. The neighbors, who had been huddled together eavesdropping, sensibly scattered at the sight of Grandpa and Granny.

"Granny, Grandpa." Jie Anlin took Granny’s arm from Chen Xiuhua and helped her into the courtyard, considerately reminding her, "Watch the threshold, Granny."

Chen Xiuhua closed the courtyard gate, but deliberately left a crack open to make it easier for the nosy neighbors to eavesdrop.

The more chaotic the oldest son’s family got, the better. It would be ideal if Jie Jianguo ended up getting dismissed from the factory because of this mess. Only then would her husband have a chance to claim the director’s seat! As long as Jie Jianguo monopolized the position, her husband had no shot. And in a few years, once Jing Er or Jing Si firmly established themselves at the factory, her husband’s chances would be completely dead.

"Jianjun, you know exactly what Mom’s health is like right now! What were you thinking, bringing her all the way here?" Mr. Xie blew up at Jie Jianjun in a towering rage.

"Jianguo, I..."

"Don’t yell at Jianjun. I forced him to bring me," Granny said, immediately defending her second son before turning to question her eldest. "Jianguo, I hate to scold you, but how could you keep me in the dark when such a massive incident has happened in our family?"

"Mom, don’t worry about this. I can handle it," Mr. Xie replied.

"You can handle it? Is your solution to call the police?" Granny scolded him earnestly. "Jianguo, you are the director of the machinery factory. You have broader horizons and a much better understanding of the big picture than they do. Do you even know what calling the police entails? Jianguo, family scandals must never be aired in public."

"Mom." Mr. Xie sighed helplessly. Did she think he didn’t know that family scandals shouldn’t be aired?

Granny sighed heavily. "Oh, Jianguo! Your household truly gives me endless grief. Your sons are only superficially cordial but secretly at odds with each other, and your daughters-in-law don’t get along either. You don’t even live in the same courtyard anymore, yet you still manage to stir up a life-or-death crisis!"

Glaring at Qin Mei, Granny cursed her without an ounce of mercy. "This wife Jing Si married is nothing but a jinx! She’s thrown the entire house into turmoil. Never mind the matter of Jing Er’s divorce—just look at his new wife’s pregnancy! Just because she can’t get pregnant herself, she grew jealous and forced medicine down the Second Daughter-in-law Jing’s throat, destroying the baby in her womb! What an absolute sin!"